Traverse City man's sentencing delayed for armed robbery

John Carl Ruppen, 26, of Traverse City, who is facing life in prison for armed robbery, had his sentencing delayed Monday, Oct. 11, in 57th Circuit Court.

A Traverse City man, who is facing life in prison for armed robbery, had his sentencing delayed Monday, Oct. 11, in 57th Circuit Court.

John Carl Ruppen, 26, pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to his role as the masked gunman during the June 30, 2009, armed robbery of Boyne Highland Resort.

He admittedly held a front-desk worker at gunpoint at the resort's main lodge around 2:30 a.m., bound the worker's mouth and arms with duct tape and eventually stole more than $21,000 from a back office safe.

His alleged accomplices include Brian Keith Haag, 41, of Petoskey, who is alleged to have planned and participated in the robbery; Jame Rakoniewski, 40, who was recently sentenced to five to 15 years for pleading guilty to unarmed robbery for his involvement as the getaway driver; and 28-year-old Tracy Turcott, who has been alleged as the lookout for the heist.

Ruppen was originally scheduled to be sentenced Monday, Oct. 11, however, this hearing was delayed by two weeks for his involvement in Turcott's case.

Turcott's case is currently on hold in 90th District Court.

According to Duane Beach, chief assistant prosecutor for Emmet County, this is because none of Turcott's co-defendants (Haag, Ruppen or Rakoniewski) could testify during her preliminary examination Oct. 1, that she had any knowledge of the planned armed robbery.

Both the prosecutor's office and Turcott's defense attorney have until Oct. 22, to file briefs in district court arguing for, or against, Turcott's bind over to circuit court.

Ruppen's sentencing was pushed back to 9 a.m. on Oct. 25 at the request of his defense attorney. It was argued that Ruppen was still a subpoenaed witness in Turcott's continued preliminary examination.